Description: This course provides students a baseline of fundamental knowledge to perform common DOD security tasks and practices. It incorporates industrial, information, personnel, and physical security disciplines to understand their interrelationships, related policies, programs, and procedures. Risk management concepts’, forming the foundation for the instruction and related content, is interspersed throughout the course.

Administration of the course is through eLearning prerequisites and asynchronously via Virtual Instruction-led Training (VILT) using the collaborative learning environment (CLE) –  STEPP. CLE activities include pre-recorded lectures, individual practical exercises, quizzes, discussion forums, and a final comprehensive course exam.

Learning Objectives: This course is designed to enable students to:

Module 0: Course Introduction

• Recognize the STEPP tools used in the course
• Describe the overall structure of the Security Specialist Course (SSC)
• Identify the purpose and audience of the SSC Course
• Identify your role in the security field

Module 1: Threats to DOD Assets and Risk Management

• Describe the type of criminal threats
• Describe the types of terrorists, their command and organizational structures, indicators, and tactics
• Identify potential indicators of insider threats
• Define risk management and identify the five-step risk management process

Module 2: Industrial Security

• Identify the relationship between industrial security and risk management
• List the steps in the contracting process and identify security considerations for each
• Identify the purpose of DD Form 254 and key sections containing security guidance

Module 3: Personnel Security

• Identify Elements of a Personnel Security Program (PSP)
• Explain the investigative requirements for civilians, military, and contractors
• Identify requirements for granting interim national security eligibility
• Describe the National Security Adjudicative Process
• Apply Continuous Evaluation Program and Reinvestigation requirements

Module 4: Information Security

• Define information security and its purpose
• Identify the relationship between information security and risk management
• Correctly mark a derivatively classified document
• Properly safeguard and prepare for transportation a piece of classified information
• Identify the requirements and regulations that guide technology transfer
• Identify the purpose and techniques for disposal and destruction of classified material
• Identify responsibilities for personnel who handle and process classified information
• Define and list requirements for classified meetings, including security manager responsibilities
• Differentiate between oversight and inspection and identify the steps in the inspection process
• Differentiate between security violations and infractions, and identify the process for handling security incidents
• Identify the purpose of cybersecurity

Module 5: Physical Security

• Identify the relationship between physical security and risk management
• Apply the five steps in the risk management model towards physical security planning, using a fictional installation

Module 6: Course Conclusion

• Complete the final course exam
• Review the role of the four core security disciplines in risk management
• Describe the three primary characteristics of a successful security professional briefing

Delivery Method: Virtual Instructor-led Training (VILT)

Length: 40 hours over four weeks

Target Audience: DOD and Federal civilian, military, and contractor security personnel

Number of Students per Course: 30 (Unless determined otherwise by the course manager)

Requirements:

• Clearance Requirements: There is no clearance requirement. Students must be a DOD or other Federal Government (military, civilian, or contractor) employee and must have a .gov or .mil email address listed in their STEPP profile to be approved for this course. Employees of state and local government or private industry must be sponsored by a DOD or another federal government agency.
• Attendance Requirements: Full-time attendance
• Exam Requirements: Students must earn a 75 percent cumulative grade average of all practical exercises, quizzes, and exams.

Prerequisites: You are required to successfully complete all prerequisites prior to requesting enrollment in the Instructor-led course.

• Developing a Security Education  and Training Program (GS104.16 exam)
• Special Access Programs (SAP) Overview (SA001.16 exam)
• OPSEC Awareness for Military Members, DOD Employees and Contractors   (GS130.16 course)
• Introduction to Risk Management   (GS150.06 course)
• Introduction to the Risk Management Framework (RMF) (CS124.16 exam)
• Introduction to Industrial Security (IS011.16 exam)
• Introduction to Personnel Security (PS113.16 exam)
• Introduction to Information Security (IF011.16 exam)
• Original Classification (IF102.16 exam)
• Derivative Classification (IF103.16 exam)
• Marking Special Categories of Classified Information (IF105.16 exam)
• Transmission and Transportation for DOD (IF107.16 exam)
• Introduction to Physical Security (PY011.16 exam)
• Storage Containers and Facilities (PY105.16 exam)
• Physical Security Planning and Implementation (PY106.16 exam)
• Physical Security Measures (PY103.16 exam)
• Lock and Key Systems (PY104.16 exam)

Credits Recommended/Earned:

• ACE Credit Recommendation: (What's this?): Three (3)semester hours, lower division baccalaureate degree category/associate degree category
• Professional Development Units per SPēD: PDUs are determined by length of course and IAW with current Certification Maintenance Guidelines
• Continuing Education Units (CEUs): Contact CompTIA to find out about CEUs for this course.

System Requirements: Check if your system is configured appropriately to use STEPP.

CDSE courses are intended for use by Department of Defense and other U.S. Government personnel and contractors within the National Industrial Security Program.